Fire Brigades Union chief in Bath to talk about strike action

The leader of Britain’s firefighters is in Bath later this afternoon to discuss the latest move in a national dispute over pensions.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary, Matt Wrack, is visiting Swindon and Bath to talk to firefighters about their experiences and plans the next stage in their campaign against a higher retirement age.

Late last year, the union staged a series of short, sharp strikes in the hope of persuading the Government to drop plans to raise the retirement age to 60.

Mr Wrack, who is due to attend a meeting in Bath at 5pm, said: “Although there has been a break in industrial action to allow for more talks, firefighters across the country remain angry at proposals that could see them losing half their pensions for being unable to work until 60 years old.

“Contributions are scheduled to go up again this year — with further increases being proposed for 2015, meaning firefighters will soon pay £4,000 a year for their pensions.

“Firefighters in the south west were among those who helped keep the public safe during the devastating floods over the last month and their input into our campaign is vital to our ability to protect their pensions.”

7 comments

Remember this:- When your at the point of death and the only one to help is a fireman/woman just try having a disscussion about whether he/she should get more or less or stay as is pension! YOU AND ALL would be pleading for your LIFE! A case of CASH or LIFE! YOUR CHOICE!

Get real 'realisticman' A firefighters pension is not 'about the best there is in the public (or private) sector'. This is government/ media spin that you appear to have lapped up without bothering to check the facts. Firefighters pay among the highest employee to employer contributions in the public sector making it one of the worst schemes. Firefighters have paid in 11% of their wage for years whilst many paid 0-4% and now firefighters are forced to pay even more. Only to be told that if they are not capable of performing the role past 55 they will be sacked, so end up with no job and no pension, potentially after nearly 40 years of loyal service. Do you really expect firefighters to be bodily fit enough at 60 to still do the role, the governments' own research doesn't. The governments' research thinks that it would be virtually impossible for a female firefighter to remain working past 55 and unlikely that male firefighters would be bodily able.
How long will a firefighter even be able to claim there pension after years of dealing with poisonous and toxic substances breathing them in and leaching into the skin due to years of under investment in kit. You really think a firefighters pension is among the best, Really?

Shall we suggest they work longer and receive far less in their pensions than they put in then realisticman?
Would you risk your life in a highly dangerous and physical job and lose your pension for getting too old to work?
Be careful what you wish for.

Their pensions are about the best there is in the public sector..why should they be exempt from the changes that everyone else has had to accept the current situation is just not financially sustainable..simple question where do they think the money coming from in these austere times ?